Thickening up a hedge in a dark corner

Hi,
New to the forum, I an Jan and live in Bristol.
We have a wildlife garden in the city. A long privet hedge down one side, the birds love it to hide in, and a visiting fox is able to come through easily. At the bottom there are a few tall trees which makes a very shady part of the garden. The hedge here is pretty thin and we can see into next door. I was wondering if there was a plant that would grow through the hedge to thicken it up, there is ivy at the base of the hedge.
Something that grows in shade, wildlife friendly, but not too invasive as our neighbors are partial to cutting anything down that dares to grow an inch into their space!
Many thanks!
Jan

 

Why not plant a few more privet to do the job?

 

Hi thanks for replying.
I did think that was the obvious answer, but the privet having been there years is not growing well i didn't think new ones would really..... I was after ideas on what plants might do better. but worth a try.
Jan

 

Actually Jan, the Privet was my second choice.lol lol If you would like a bit of colour you could perhaps grow a honeysuckle through it.

 

I would love a honeysuckle , but I think my neighbour would chop it, and also not sure it would like the dark. I know honeysuckle goes a bit "mad" maybe the dark would stunt it a bit?
Jan

 

Not at all Jan, Honeysuckle is a woodland plant. Also, as long they only cut what is THEIR side of the hedge then it should be fine.

 

Holly.

 

Privet responds really well to cutting right back, I cut one of the plants that form my hedge back to just a bunch of 2 ft sticks earlier this year, and its growing beautifully now.

 

Thank you for your suggestions. I have a massive holly tree right by the privet that we sit under